Since the approval of the outline planning application, the team have undertaken a detailed review of the scheme, to assess its viability and ensure that the site brought forward is of the highest quality scheme, optimising delivery of residential accommodation on this brownfield sustainable town centre site.

Through the review, it’s concluded that the single-story residential tower is not a deliverable scheme, and this is for several reasons. Firstly, since the approval of the previous scheme, market conditions have changed and it’s no longer possible or viable to deliver the scheme, particularly including the benefits that are included like the level of affordable housing and improvements to the Hogsmill River.

Additionally, the requirements of the Building Safety Act mean the scheme does not deliver the best optimisation or delivery of residential units on this town centre site.

The proposed scheme is for co-living and stand-alone affordable housing. Due to the operational needs of co-living, the types of housing must be delivered separately and therefore cannot be accommodated within the existing single block.

The buildings are 19 residential storeys and 13 residential storeys. There will be an amount of plant on the roof. However, this will be integrated within the architecture. The team are not looking to have any plant poking out the top that could disrupt the Kingston skyline.

The team are in discussions with both the GLA and the Local Planning Authority with the final quantum mix of the affordable units in line with policy.

In the affordable block, the tenure mix will focus heavily on family size units, with the size of these units confirmed to meet London Plan Guidance.

The proposals include two slimmer buildings that sit more comfortably in the townscape.

The eastern length of the proposed co-living building in total is around 30m; although the massing is divided into two elements of around 13.5m with a central recess between them. The current lever house eastern façade is an uninterrupted length of just over 39m, and a total of just over 44m along its full length. The consented scheme has a different orientation to the proposed co-living building and existing lever house, with the smaller eastern dimension of 23m – and a wider southern aspect dimension of 40m.

Private balconies will be provided to the affordable building.

In the UK, the typical design life for a new multi-unit residential scheme (such as those proposed) is generally at least 60 years. This benchmark comes from BS 7543 (the British Standard guide to durability of buildings). As part of the planning application submission, the design team will demonstrate that the co-living building could easily be adapted to a traditional C3 residential building in the future.

At its narrowest point, the distance sits at around 9m tapering out to around 18m. The buildings have been designed to minimise overlooking and maximise daylight sunlight; a full daylight and sunlight analysis will be submitted as part of the planning application submission.

A full daylight, sunlight and overshadowing assessment will be included with the planning application that will scientifically demonstrate the magnitude of any effects.

As part of the Environmental Statement’s Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment and Heritage Assessment accurate visual representations of the proposal set within existing, winter, photography will be provided from agreed viewpoints. The accurate visual representations will be prepared in accordance with the Landscape Institute’s Technical Guidance Note 06/19 Visual Representation of Development Proposals. These viewpoints are similar to those assessed as part of the consented scheme’s planning application; however, they have been refined to focus on the site and proposal.

The viewpoint selection has been informed by the 2018 Kingston View Study and Richmond’s 2025 Draft Local Views SPD and have been agreed as part of the pre-application discussions with Kingston’s Conservation and Design Officers.

The selection includes three viewpoints from the Market Place and 26 viewpoints fall within the surrounding conservation areas.

Overshadowing analysis is currently being undertaken for the month of June.

Yes, a number of views have been selected and agreed with Kingston’s Conservation and Design Officers from both east and west perspectives to be assessed as part of the Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment and Heritage Assessment

All daylight/sunlight surveys will be available to view once a planning application has been submitted to Kingston Council.

The applicant will explore any available grant to maximise the amount of affordable housing that could be delivered.

The applicant will prepare an Environmental Impact Assessment that will accompany the planning application alongside a suite of technical assessments that will include ecological and sustainability reports that will assess and mitigate the impact on the environment.

The site is designated by the Environment Agency as being in Flood Zone X, which is the lowest flood risk rating. A Flood Risk Assessment will accompany the planning application to analyse the flood risks. A Surface Water Drainage Assessment will also be prepared to ensure sustainable drainage techniques are used to avoid increase in surface water runoff.

The team will be preparing ecology appraisals and assessments that will form part of the full planning application. As part of these assessments, they will be looking at Chalk streams and agreeing an approach with the Environmental Authority.

The team will be preparing ecology appraisals and assessments that will form part of the full planning application. 

To optimise efficiency and reduce local congestion, long-distance and large load deliveries will be scheduled outside peak hours where possible. Vehicles will follow pre-approved routes to minimize disruption, and just-in-time delivery systems.

The planning application will require Cube Real Estate to prepare and implement a detailed Construction and Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) which sets out methods of work, the hours construction work can take place on the site in order to ensure works are undertaken in line with methodology to be approved by RB Kingston Council officers.

Subject to approvals, main works could start on site in 2027 with an anticipated completion in 2029.

Cascade has been appointed by Cube Real Estate to manage the overall engagement for the project focused on ensuring the consultation and engagement is as extensive and wide reaching as possible. The aim is to make the engagement accessible to all residents in Kingston.

Cascade is a specialist, strategic consultancy specialising in community engagement and advocacy across the built environment sector.

Yes, your views matter as we want the community to engage in a conversation about how new development can successfully integrate in terms of its use and design. All views are welcome, and we encourage the community to give us their feedback.

Yes, your feedback will inform the design and planning application process for the proposed development.

To consult on these proposals the team have now hosted an in-person event in Kingston and an online webinar to talk through the plans and field questions from residents.

Alongside this, the team launched a project website that has been regularly updated with information on the plans and allows interested residents to offer feedback.

Our community consultation is now closed. We would like to thank all of those who have provided feedback on our proposals.

Yes. A summary of the consultation approach will be submitted along with the planning application in a document named the Statement of Community Involvement.

We understand that there was a slight delay in the materials arriving for the event and want to apologise for any inconvenience caused.

All information displayed at the in-person event, a full recording of the webinar and the feedback form are now available on the project website.